Toggle clamping device



' Patented Oct. 9, 1945 .zfyu-NiTsD STAT-Es PArgE'Nfr.-oErice l2,386,557" ToGGLE'ciAMP'I'NG IIJEVICE 'a j John olsen, Detroit, Mich.

Application May 22, 1942, Serial No. 444,117

(ci. 1er- 290) 2 Claims.

This invention relates to clamping devices and particularly toggleclamping devices suited for clamping work on a support during a cuttingor other operation, and adapted to be .quickly applied to or releasedfrom the work.

An object of the invention is to pivt a clamping arm and a lever foractuating said arm individually on a suitable bracket and tointerconnect the arm and lever by a link having a toggle coaction withthe leverthe arrangement being such that the lever `lies close adjacentto rand in approximate parallelism with the arm when a clamping functionis derived, minimizing the space requisite to accommodate the deyv1ce.

yAnother object is to minimize the number of parts and achieve a maximumsimplicity in constructing a clamping device using a toggle linkage toderive a mechanical advantage and to lock the device in itswork-clamping position.

These and. various other objects are attained by the constructionhereinafter described and illustratedin the accompanying drawing, where-Fig. 1 is a top plan view of 'the device taking 'effect on a piece ofwork.y

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the same. Fig. 3 is an end view ofthe same.

v determines the locking position.

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of the device j in released position;

In these views, the reference character I designates a base plateserving as a support for a piece of work 2. For clamping the work rmlyon said'base, an arm 3 has one end pivoted at 4 on a bracket 5 securedby screws 6 or the like to the base I. The other end of thearrn engagesthe work through a clamping head "I Vprovided with a threaded shank 8extended through the arm and having lock nuts 9 seating against oppositefaces of the arm. Thus, said shank may be adjusted with respect to thearm to suit the device to different thicknesses of work. Pivoted l at ahigher point I0 on the bracket 5 is a lever II connected to the arm 3 bya pair of links I2 for actuating the arm, the lever having a. lug I3projecting toward the arm to accommodate the rivet I4 attaching thelinks to the lever and. to form a limiting stop. The lever and arm swingin a common plane and the free end portion koi the lever is bent asindicated at I5 to provide a handle which may be gripped without the armforming an obstruction.

The 'bracket 5 is preferably a sheet metalv stamping, having an uprightportion bent to form spaced parallel Walls between which the arm andlever are pivoted, and wings I6 "being oppositely extended from. saidwalls to form a base for Vengagement by the screws 6.

In use of the described device, the arm 3 inits clamping position liessubstantially parallel to the base I. The lever II is swung down inclose proximity to the arm and substantially parallel thereto. Inapproaching the described position, the portion of the lever between itspivot and the links I2 has a toggle coaction with said links to greatlymultiply the applied pressure and to finally lock fthe arm in itsclamping position. Locking is eiected by forcing the rivet I 4 slightlybelow the plane established jointly by the pivot I0 and the rivetjoining the links to the arm. Seating of the lug I3 against the arm Itis important to note that the described arrangement minimizes the spacemeasured transversely to the base I necessary to accommodate the device,

permitting it to function where clearance afforded by parts of a machineor by an overhanging part of the work is quite limited.

VA slight upward actuation of the lever suffices to relieve the work ofclamping pressure, but it is preferred to shift the lever and arm to theupright position shown in Fig. 4, on releasing the clamp, since suchposition is selfrnaintained and assures ample clearance for disposingthe next piece of. work in clamping posiftion. Swinging the lever andarm to upright position, in relieving clamping pressure detracts nothingfrom advantage gained in reducing the device to a compact form when4exercising its clamping function, since the base I is usually readilyportable andy permits the work and the described device to be removedfrom a working position upon completion of any desired operation. Itwill be noted that the lug I3 of the lever engages the arm to establishthe upright position of the lever and arm, just as it does to establishthe lowered and locked position of said parts.

By bending the free end portion of the lever through a right angle theresulting handle permits manipulation of the lever without risk of aworkmans fingers being squeezed between the lever and arm. y

Byv reason of the simplicity of the device and lits formation fromstandard bar stock and stampings, it may be produced quiteinexpensively.

What I claim is:

1. A -toggle clamping ldevice comprising a.

bracket having spaced walls, a clamping arm having an end pivoted onsaid bracket between their lever-engaging ends between their arm-`engaging ends and the bracket-engaging pivotal end of the lever.

2. A toggle clamping device comprisingla bracket having a base, aclamping arm, an actuating lever for said arm, spaced parallel pivotsmounting the arm and lever on the bracket, the lever pivot being moreremote from the bracket base than the arm pivot, and a, link pivotallyconnected at its ends to the lever and arm and forming an actuatingconnection from the lever to the arm, said link being movable at itsleverengaging end between its arm-engaging end and the bracket-.engaginglever-pivot .to aord the lever a toggle advantage and. lock the `arm ina clamping position, the lever and arm abutting in two differentpositions thereof to limit both A clamping and releasing actuation ofthe device.

JOI-1N OLSON.

